SoSlang Crowdsources a Dictionary

March 20, 2012

Here’s a surprising and interesting approach to dictionaries: have users build their own. SoSlang allows anyone to add a slang term and its definition. Beware, though, this site is not for everyone. Entries can be salty. R-rated, even. You’ve been warned.

The site’s About page presents this description:

“So Slang is an un-complicated online slang dictionary which is contributed and edited by thousands of people online just like you. Unlike formal dictionaries, you can add your own meaning to millions of words.

“With more than 6 million definitions, So Slang is the biggest hub for street definitions of each and every word in the dictionary. These definitions are added by people all over the world wide web. If you’d like to add a definition, click here.”

Providing easy-to-understand definitions and lots of examples are emphasized. As users add definitions, though, the old ones are not removed; this means some entries have a long list of conflicting definitions. I suppose that’s the nature of slang, though.

If you are even somewhat easily offended, stay away. However, if you’re boggled by a slang expression you overheard, this may be the place to turn.

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining
and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky.
He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues
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